AlO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 22, 2003
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OPINION
For Farmers, Every Day
Is National Ag Day
We learned from our friends at AgWeb.com (the people who produce
Farm Journal) that National Ag Day marks its 30th anniversary on the
first day of spring, which was Friday. A day to realize that food is hard to
come by, and is perhaps a privilege, not a right.
Quoting President Bush: “A nation that can feed its people is a nation
more secure.”
Yet we hear the proposed budget cutbacks in the state and nation. Our
leaders continue to take the inexpensive, environmentally friendly ways
farmers produce food for granted.
War rages in Iraq. In the end, perhaps when it is over, we will see a re
covery brought about by less expensive oil. That would be a boost to mod
ern agriculture.
But why take just one day to recognize the value of agriculture? How
about those who will now starve in Iraq while we sit in the comfort of out
homes, eating popcorn and watching on Fox or CNN what goes on over
in the Gulf?
Many organizations are already reaching out, wanting to restore order
to a troubled part of the country. How long it will take is anybody’s guess.
I only hope Congress takes time out to realize the recovery efforts, after
the war ends, will be expensive and to not forget the farmer’s contribution
to the efforts.
Some happy news:
Did you know that Pennsylvania’s 61 commercial trout growers sold
I 64 million pounds of trout valued at $4.56 million during 2002? This
was down from the 1.88 million pounds valued at $4.89 million sold in
2000, according to Marc Tosiano in his monthly column in Lancaster
Farming , Agriculture Counts. Only Wisconsin has more trout growers
than Pennsylvania, with 65 operations.
But Pennsylvania ranks first in the nation for the value of trout distrib
uted for conservation and recreational purposes. With a value of $lO.B
million, Pennsylvania accounts for 16.6 percent of the nation’s distributed
trout. This includes trout released by state hatcheries, cooperative nurse
ries. and private fishing clubs.
Also, you think all prices for farm commodities are headed backward?
Check out something else from Marc’s column. Did you know that in
2002, Pennsylvania honey producers received an average price of $1.30
per pound, compared to 92 cents the year before?
For some ag commodities, celebrating National Ag Day is, well, honey
on the cake!
Saturday, March 22
Atlantique City Spring Festival,
Atlantic City Convention Cen
ter, thru March 23. Saturday
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday 10
a.m.-5 p.m., (800) 526-2724.
Beginning Beekeepers Seminar,
Editor.
Sixteen farm groups sent a let
ter to U.S. House leaders and
members on Monday in opposi
tion to the fiscal year 2004 budget
resolution adopted by the House
Budget Committee.
How To Reach Us
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Editor, Lancaster Farming
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Ephrata, PA 17522
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Lysock View Complex, (570)
433-3040.
Maple Syrup Production Tour,
Bradford-Sullivan Forest
Landowners’ Association,
Dewey Meadow Maple War-
(Turn to Page A3l)
❖ Farm Forum ❖
The letter and list of groups
follow.
March 17, 2003
The Honorable Dennis Hastert
Speaker
United States House of Represen
tatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader
United States ouse of Represen
tatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Speaker Hastert and Demo
cratic Leader Pelosi:
The undersigned organizations
write to express our concern and
strong opposition to the fiscal
year 2004 budget resolution
adopted by the House Budget
Committee.
As you are aware, farmers and
ranchers did not participate in
the economic growth and pros-
(Turn to Page A 32)
To Improve Pastures
With Frost- Or
No-Till Seeding
Pennsylvania has about 3 million
acres of pastureland, much of which
is not producing as much forage as it
could.
Bob Anderson, Lancaster County
agronomy agent, points out that
studies have shown that the produc
tivity of pastures can be improved
two or three fold through renovation.
Grass pastures can be interseeded
with a legume to improve both the
total dry matter yield and the quality
of the forage based on feeding value.
Pasture renovation is hindered in
many places because the land is too
steep and would have a severe ero
sion problems if plowed for reseed
ing. Methods whereby this land could
be improved without use of tillage
would provide a means to improve
productivity and profitability with
out the high risk of erosion inherent
in conventional methods of pasture
improvement. Two excellent alterna
tives are frost seeding and no-till
drilling.
Frost seeding, referred to as snow
seeding by some, can be used to es-
WHERE IS
YOUR AUTHORITY?
Background Scripture:
Mark 6:1-13.
Devotional Reading:
John 12:44-50.
In some ways, since Jesus' times,
the world hasn’t changed as much as
we might expect. For example, in
Mark 6:1-6, Jesus’ countrymen were
both amazed at the authority he
exuded and incredulous that such
authority could reside in someone
local. “Where did this man get all
this? ... Is not this the carpenter, the
son ot Mary and brother of James
and Joseph and Judas and Simon?’’
How could a local boy make good on
such a high level? So, although they
were intrigued by the authority with
which he spoke, “they took offense at
him.”
That happens today, too, doesn’t
it?
Many years ago when I was an un
dergraduate at the University of
Pennsylvania, I was a member in the
campus drama group. There was one
fellow thespian who never seemed to
do much in this busy organization,
just sat around and plinked on the
piano a lot. “Boy. there’s one guy
Lancaster Farming
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tablish a legume in existing grass
pastures. The legume seed is broad
cast on the soil surface in early
spring. The normal freezing and
thawing of the soil surface at this
time of the year combined with early
spring rains help to incorporate and
germinate the seed. The key to suc
cess with this method is to seed at the
proper time and to follow up with ro
tational grazing or mowing in order
to reduce the competition from the
grass already in the pasture.
A study in Michigan showed that
legume yields were reduced by 50
percent the year following seeding if
grasses were not suppressed in the
seeding year. Grass suppression is
vital for seedling establishment when
legumes are frost-seeded into grass
sod.
Red clover is an excellent choice
for frost seeding because it is tolerant
of cold soil temperatures. In addi
tion, it has good vigor and is one of
the easiest legumes to establish. Clo
ver is also more tolerant of wet soil
conditions and low soil pH than
other legumes.
For a successful frost seeding, se
lect a site that can be grazed closely
to reduce grass competition. Soil test
and correct pH and fertility problems
before or shortly after seeding. Seed
ing should be done while the ground
is still frozen. Seeding on snow is sat
isfactory if the snow depth is not
great, since rapid melting may cause
loss of seed through runoff. A cy
clone seeder or seeder attachment on
the back of a tractor will work well.
Recommendations for no-till seed
ing are similar to the frost seeding.
Early seeding is key to the successful
establishment of the legume. Seed as
early as possible; however, avoid
seeding in wet conditions.
To Apply Nitrogen
To Small Grains
Now that most of the snow is gone,
it is time to think about the first
agronomic job of the spring top
dressing small grain with nitrogen.
The rate and timing of spring-ap
plied nitrogen depends on several
factors.
The first factor is growth stage. If
who will never make it in the enter
tainment world,” I opined. It seemed
like a very safe prophecy, but 10
years later I saw his name as director
of some of the movie industry’s most
successful films. I was both amazed
and chastened, just as Jesus’ coun
trymen would be today.
In Our Own Country
Jesus’ response is still as true
today as it was then: “A prophet is
not without honor, except in his own
country, and in his own house” (6:4).
He was right about many of his
neighbors and also about his own
family. Mark tells us that, when he
went to his own home, his friends
“went out to seize him, for they said,
‘He is beside himself” (3:21) and
John tells us “For even his brothers
did not believe in him” (Jn. 7;5).
Halford E. Luccock said, “They
had all the physical facts about this
strange man, his birth, his occupa
tion, his home and family. That is all
they needed the obvious facts.” But,
as both Jesus’ neighbors and his fam
ily would learn, there is usually a lot
more to a person we think we know
than the obvious facts. “Our world is
ridden with ‘factfinders’” who look
no further than the facts.
Eventually, his family and friends
would realize that this local boy,
whom they thought they knew so
well, carried an authority in himself
that was messianic. But they also
were to learn that Jesus could bestow
authority on his disciples who came
from the very lowest levels of society.
These men seemed the least likely to
share in the mission of the messiah.
Still, Jesus sent “them out two by
two and gave them authority over
unclean spirits” (6:7). Jesus first
called them to “come,” but now the
command is to “go!” Lots of people
the plants are at growth stage 2
(main stem and one or two tillers) or
less, apply the nitrogen as soon as
plants start “greening up.” If the
plants are past growth stage two, the
nitrogen can be applied from “green
up” to growth stage 5 (early erect
growth). Refer to the “2003 Agrono
my Guide," available at your local
extension office, for a description of
growth stages. The 2003 agronomy
guide is available on the Internet at
http://agguide.agronomy.psu.edu/.
The nitrogen rate will depend on
anticipated yield, previous crop yield,
previous fertilizer amounts, and fre
quency and amount of manure ap
plied. Each bushel of wheat grain
produced will require 1.3 to 1.5
pounds of nitrogen. Estimating the
amount that will be supplied by the
soil is important. Excessive nitrogen
applications effect profitability, in
crease disease pressures, increase
lodging potential, decrease yields,
and increase the potential for nitro
gen leaching. Inadequate nitrogen
also affects profitability since it will
result in reduced yield.
One of the major factors affecting
soil available nitrogen is frequency of
manure applications. Research indi
cates that when fields are manured
every one or two years, one should
apply 0 to 30 pounds of nitrogen per
acre. If applied every three to four
years, one should apply 30 to 60
pounds of nitrogen per acre. When
applied less frequently, one should
apply 60 to 90 pounds of nitrogen
per acre.
Winter barley has less resistance to
lodging then wheat; therefore, the ni
trogen rates should be reduced
accordingly. Keep the nitrogen rates
between 45 and 60 pounds per acre
when manure is not applied fre
quently to the field. When manure is
frequently applied, use only 0 to 30
pounds of nitrogen per acre.
Quote Of The Week:
“The road to underdevelopment
is paved with good intentions. The
worst thing that aid does is destroy
initiative and create a sense of en
titlement. ”
Author Paul Theroux writing on
the challenges of western relief
work in Africa.
like the first part of that, but never
get around to the “go” part.
Badge Of Authority
This is important for us to remem
ber: the authority of Jesus is his not
only to keep, but to share with those
who follow him. That’s us. But, let’s
make certain we understand what
this authority is: to preach, to heal,
and to cast out evil.
Our authority is not to act in an
authoritarian manner, but to use our
authority to help others. And this is
what they did: “So they went out and
preached that men should repent.
And they cast out many demons, and
anointed with oil many that were
sick and healed them” (6:13). That is
and has always been the church’s
badge of authority. If we are not
doing those things today, can we be
the Church?
Mark tells us, “And he could do no
mighty work there, except that he
laid his hands on a few sick people
and healed them. And he marveled
because of their unbelief.” (3:5,6).
Despite the authority of Jesus, he
was limited in what he could do by
the lack of faith on the part of the
people.
Mark says Jesus “could do no
mighty work there,” while Matthew
makes it “did not do.” I think Mark’s
“could” is more helpful for us, be
cause we too often forget that the
power of God in Christ needs to
work in the context of faith. I have
always observed that the greatest re
sults are respondent not to disbelief,
but faith.
Lancaster Farming
Established 1955
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Ephrata, PA 17522
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William J Burgess General Manager
Andy Andrews, Editor
Copyright 2003 by Lancaster Farming